Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I will not repeat what I said but I fully support everything that has been said by Senators Terry and McCarthy. I wish to make an additional point, raised by Senator Terry, relating to the health issues arising from people being unable to trace their parentage. We should be stronger in ensuring that all birth certificates must contain the registration of the father's name as well as the mother's name. That should be given legislative backing. In cases where there is doubt — of which there are not too many — DNA and other testing can identify the true father. In the interests of society and of ensuring that a father fulfils all his responsibilities to a child and to the mother of the child, we should be stronger in our approach to this aspect.